Self-wringing floor cleaner having interchangeable cleaning elements



E. HEID SELF-WRINGING FLOOR CLEANER HAVING INTERCHANGEABLE CLEANINGELEMENTS Feb. 17, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 28, 196'? Fig" I Feb.17, 1970 E. HEID GING FLOOR CLEA NGEABLE CLEANIN NER HAVING G ELEMENTS SL -WR ER Filed Nov. 28, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Emmenrl; lie/d,

United States PatentO 3 495,289 SELF-WRINGING FIZOOR CLEANER HAVINGINTERCHANGEABLE CLEANING ELEMENTS Emmerich Heid, 22 Lutrinastrasse,Kaiserslautem, Germany Filed Nov. 28, 1967, Ser. No. 686,013 Int. Cl.A471 13/14 US. Cl. 15-119 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cleaningimplement with detachable tools, in which a sponge squeezing plate isnormally located on top of the base plate of the implement to the bottomof which the tools are fastened, the squeeze plate having a lazy tonglinkage whereby it may be moved away from the top of the' base plate andlocated so as to squeeze a cleaning sponge tool with uniform pressureall over the surface of the sponge.

The invention concerns a floor cleaning implement with interchangeablecleaning tools orim-plements such as scru-bbers,.p'olishing cloths,brooms and the like with a device for squeezing out a sponge scrubbermounted thereon as a washing implement.

Manual implements for floor cleaning are already known having removableand interchangeable cleaning tools which have sponge scrubbers securedthereto, and having a device for squeezing the sponge dry.

Such known tools comprise a squeezing plate connected to the retainingplate of the sponge and which for applying pressure is pivoted relativeto the sponge surface by means of a handle mounted thereon, pressingboth the retaining plate and pressure application plate against oneanother thus squeezing the sponge located therebetween. Adisadvantageous feature of this arrangement is that the sponge is alwayssqueezed more strongly on the hinge side than on the opposite side andthus wears relatively more quickly on this side.

To remedy the above disadvantage it has already been proposed to squeezeout the sponge with the squeezing plate substantially parallel to thesponge retaining plate by means of a vertical movement. For this purposein a known embodiment a guide rod or rigid angle lever is provided onwhich a squeezing lever with squeezing plate is mounted. The guide rodor squeezing lever is articulated to the appliance handle on which inthe resting position the squeezing lever with the squeezing plate isretained. The disadvantage of this arrangement is that the, squeezingplate projects on both sides beyond the appliance handle and togetherwith the retaining plate forms a relatively widely spaced obstacle,which renders cleaning in corners or beneath articles of furniture moreor less difficult.

It is an object of the invention to provide a manually operatedimplement for cleaning floors with removable and mutuallyinterchangeable cleaning tools, with a device for squeezing out asponge, in which the advantage of the arrangement mentioned last isutilised without adopting its disadvantages.

In accordance with the invention this is effected in a manually operatedimplement for floor cleaning having removable and interchangeablecleaning tools by means of lazy tong linkage hingedly connected to thebase plate of the given cleaning tool, the squeezing plate beingcontiguous the surface of the holding plate. The lazy tong linkagecomprises a plurality of individual linkage members hingedlyinterconnected which, when the squeezing plate is swung inwards into itsoperating or squeezing position, forms a toggle lever which shifts thepivotal ice point for the squeezing plate, the base plate of the spongeor the cleaning tool to be squeezed. In this way the base plate togetherwith the squeezing plate normally form a uniform integral area, so thatthe cleaning implement does not differ substantially from conventionaltypes either in external appearance nor function.

The individual interconnected linkage members are preferably U-shaped,the dimensions of which are such that in the resting position of thesqueezing plate they are laid folded together longitudinally from aboveso as to nest one in the other. In this manner the squeezing plate isbrought as closely as possible on top of the base plate. The individualinterconnected linkage members are preferably held together by a spring.

Further features and advantages of the invention are illustrated indetail by way of the accompanying drawings, showing an embodiment of theinvention, in which:

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the floor cleaning implement,

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the implement showing the squeezing platein a resting position,

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the apparatus showing the squeezing platein a squeezing position,

FIG. 4 is a structural design of a base plate and its associatedsupporting plate for a cleaning tool, and

FIG. 5 is an eccentric fastener used in conjunction with a retaining pinfor securing the cleaning tool to the base plate.

In FIG. 1 numeral 1 is a base plate and a squeezing plate 3 is hingedlysecured thereto by means of a lazy tong linkage 2 and with its undersidedetachably connected by means of dowel pins 4 in conjunction with aneccentric fastener 5, to a supporting plate 6 with a cleaning tool 7.The surface of the base plate also has a socket 8 with a handle 9secured therein, whilst on the underside of the squeezing plate 3 ahandle 9a is mounted. The latter is inclined relative to the surface ofthe squeezing plate so that in the resting position the latter is at anequal angle with the handle 9, FIG. 2.

The lazy tong linkage 2 comprises two juxtaposed hingedly interconectedU-shaped linkage members 10 and 11, one free end of which is pivotablymounted on a U-shaped hold-ing bar 12 and the free end of the otherlinkage member 11 by means of a U-shaped bar 13. The holding bar 12 isrigidly mounted on the surface of the base plate 1 and the U-shaped bar13 on the underside of the squeezing plate 3. Member 11 is longer thanmember 10 and overlaps at the hinge points 14. For this purpose thecentral U-ri-b is perforated so that when the U-shaped linkage members10, 11 are swung out, the member 11 abuts against the U-shaped ribremaining at the side of the perforation and is unable to swing beyondan angle of about The linkage member 10 is detachably secured by meansof a bearing pin to the member 11 at a pivot point 14 and has severalbearing openings 1511, so that the member 10 can be shortened ifrequired. The linkage members 10, 11 are pretensioned relative oneanother in the region of the hinge pivot 14 by means of a spring (notshown). The linkage members 10, 11 and the retaining bar 12 are sodimensioned that in the resting position of the squeezing plate 3, theyare collapsed from above longitudinally and nested in one another. Inthe length of the handle 9a there is a channel in the shape of thehandle 9. The configuration of the linkage members 10, 11, the holdingbar 12 and the I handle M, are such as to provide a unitary structure ofpleasing appearance.

The various cleaning tools such as a sponge, broom, scrubber or the likeare each mountable on the underside of the supporting plate 6. The uppersurface facing the base plate 1 is ridged at 15 and has two flat sidesurfaces 16, 17 which are flush with the crests of the ridges. A

.17. The underside of the base plate 1 has corresponding ridges 18 whichmate with the ridges 15. In the flat surfaces 19, 20 there are holes 21coinciding with the positions of the dowel pins 4 (FIG. 4).

The pins 4 have elongated holes 22 formed therein, which co-operate withthe end of an eccentric lever 23 of an eccentric closure (FIG. 5). ThisFIG. 5 shows the eccentric closure with all the parts co-operatingtherewith. This shows that the dowel pin 4 is riveted to the undersideof the supporting plate and projects therethrough and through the holes21 in the base plate. In the present example the U-shaped rib of theholding bar 12 is located over the pin 4, so that the U-shaped rib iscorrespondingly perforated. The pin 4 is located in the holding bar 12which carries the eccentric lever 23. For this purpose a gnide pin 24transversely connecting the two upstanding walls is mounted in the bar12, on which pin the eccentric lever with an arcuate slot 25 is adaptedto be moved to and fro, with its leading nose portion 26 moving up anddown. The collaborating parts of the eccentric lever and the holding pinare so radiused relative to one another that when the holding pin isbraced or released, an easy action is ensured.

The mode of operation of the apparatus is as follows:

When a scrubbing sponge 7 is to be connected to the device, it isinserted With its dowel pins 4 through bores 21, with the ridges 15, 18interengaging. The pins 4 projecting with their slots 22 into theholding bars 12 are now connected to the base plate 1 by moving the end27 of the eccentric lever 23 downwardly. This causes it to slide in itsarcuate slot 25 on the guide pin 24 forward with its nose portion 26moving upwardly. The nose portion 26 enters the slot 22 and lifts thepin 4 progressively until finally the two co-operating curved parts,i.e. the curved part 28 of the upper slot closure and curved part 29 ofthe nose portion closure are in pressure contact. By means of the twopins 4 the whole supporting plate is now lifted and firmly pressedagainst the base plate. The configuration of the superposed ridged andside surfaces makes relative displacement of the plates 1 and 6impossible, which is important in view of the stressesencountcred duringfloor washing. For detaching the cleaning implement, or interchangingfor another it is only necessary for the lever end 27 of the eccentriclever to be lifted. The operation described above now takes place inreverse sequence and as soon as the nose portion 26 has slid out of theslot 22, the supporting plate 6 may be lifted off the underside of thebase plate.

For squeezing out the wet sponge 7 the squeezing plate 3 is swung out ofits inoperative position, FIG. 2 by means of the handle 9a throughsubstantially 360 into its operating position, FIG. 3. The pivot 31 forthe squeezing plate 3 is shifted to below the base plate 1, the squeezeplate being held by means of the lazy tong linkage 10, 11. In this wayit is possible for the sponge to be squeezed out over its whole surfaceswith even pressure, which is not possible with known apparatus. Duringsqueezing, the apparatus is held by the handle 9a with one hand andparts 5-, 9a are pressed towards one another. The sponge may also beeifectively squeezed out by moving the squeezing plate 3 into theoperating position whereupon after removal of the handle 9a the assemblyis placed on the floor and the person operating the apparatus steps onthe base plate. For this purpose, however, it would be necessary for thehandle 9a to be mounted removably or deflectedly on the squeezing plate.

Since the location of the pivot shift below the base plate is dependentupon the dimensioning of the toggle lever 30, this may be adapted bysuitably extending or shortening one of the U-shaped linkage members 10or 11 to accommodate varying thicknesses of sponge. It is thereforeexpedient for one linkage member to be detachably mounted on the pivot14 and to be provided over its length with pivot holes 15a.

1 claim:

1. A manually operated implement for floor cleaning having removable orinterchangeable cleaning tools, comprising a base plate, a squeezingplate, a lazy tong linkage interconnecting said plates, the normalposition of said squeezing plate being contiguous to the upper surfaceof said base plate, said lazy tong linkage comprising at least twohingedly connected linkage members which, when the squeezing plate isswung into its working position, forms a toggle lever which shifts thepivot point of said squeezing plate to a position below said plate, theindividual linkage members being U-shaped and so dimensioned that in thenormal position of said squeezing plate, they are adapted to nestcollapsed longitudinally from above into one another.

2. An implement as recited in claim .1, wherein one member of saidU-shaped linkage members is longer than the other member and projectsbeyond the pivot point between said linkage members.

3. An implement as. recited in claim 2, wherein said linkage members aredetachable at said pivot point and one linkage member defines aplurality of pivot holes.

4. A manually operated implement for floor cleaning having removable orinterchangeable cleaning tools, comprising a base plate, a squeezingplate, a lazy tong linkage interconnecting said plates, the normalposition of said squeezing plate being contiguous to the upper surfaceof said base plate, a said tool having a supporting plate, dowel pins onsaid supporting plate, and eccentric means on said base plate engageablewith said dowel pins to hold said tool on said base plate, the upperside of said supporting plate having ridges and the underside of saidbase plate havin corresponding otfset ridges engageable with saidsupporting plate ridges.

5. An implement as recited in claim 4 wherein said dowel pins areprovided on the ridged side of said supporting plate and defineelongated holes in which said eccentric holding means engage.

6. An implement as recited in claim 5 wherein said eccentric holdingmeans comprises a lever, a pivot part for said lever mounted on saidbase plate, a substantially fiat hooked nose on said lever and a. curvedslot defined by said lever for receiving the pivot part.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,466,052 8/1923 Kroll 15-1192,438,338 3/1948 Horn.

2,715,744 8/1955 Ljungdahl.

2,943,340 7/ 1960 Channel.

3,030,638 4/1962 Greenleaf.

3,034,165 5/1962 Christian 15231 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 83,670 8/1964France.

(Addition to 1,346,263) 411,314 6/1934 Great Britain.

DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 15-244

